Page 49 of Breaking
It was an unknown number. She hesitated before answering, her voice measured. "Hello?"
"Jenna," came a warm, pleasant voice. "It's Lila."
Jenna's spine straightened, her grip tightening on the phone. "What do you want, Ms. Whitmore?"
Lila sighed, as if the whole situation was unfortunate but necessary. "Come now, I have been Lila to you for so long. I wanted to talk toyou woman to woman. I know you've seen the news, and I just... I wanted to ask you to do what's right."
Jenna's jaw clenched. "Excuse me?"
"I know this must be difficult for you," Lila continued smoothly. "But the truth is, Troy and I have always had a connection. We were always supposed to get married until you played the oldest card in the book. You were always in the way of what was meant to be. But now the kids are grown up. They love me. He and I... we belong together."
Jenna closed her eyes briefly, inhaling deeply through her nose. "And yet, for twenty years, you never had him."
Lila chuckled, the sound light, almost condescending. "You're right. But people change. Feelings evolve. And now that everything's out in the open, wouldn't it be easier to move forward gracefully?"
Jenna's hands shook, but her voice remained steady. "If that's what he wants, he can tell me himself."
There was a pause, then Lila's voice turned just a shade too saccharine. "Jenna, we both know he's not coming after you. You saw the pictures. He's made his choice."
Jenna's lips pressed together. "We'll see about that."
Lila exhaled, feigning regret. "You know, I was going to let you in on a little secret. Do you remember when Margaret suggested the name Lilly for your daughter?"
Jenna stiffened. "What about it?"
Lila's voice was silk over steel. "It wasn't because of some great-grandmother. It was because I wanted Troy's daughter to have a name similar to mine. And Troy agreed. It was a little joke between us. Like a Trojan horse." She let that sink in before adding, almost lazily, "And, wouldn't you say, she's grown up a lot more like me than you?"
Jenna felt it then-the sharp, slow slide of a knife between her ribs.
Her throat constricted, but she refused to let Lila hear her falter. She swallowed against the pain, her voice level. "You really think that matters?"
Lila hummed. "Oh, I know it does. But don't worry, Jenna. I'm sure you'll find your place. I will even talk Troy into giving you living expenses. You know he listens to me."
Jenna ended the call.
Her hand trembled as she placed the phone down, but she didn't allow herself to fall apart. Not yet.
Instead, she exhaled, squared her shoulders, and stood up.
Chapter 40
Troy
Olivia had no intention of seeing Troy Bradshaw.
When his assistant had called to schedule a meeting, she had flatly refused. She had no patience for whatever excuses he was prepared to offer. Jenna had been through enough and Olivia had no interest in playing referee to his guilt.
But Troy was relentless.
When he arrived unannounced at her office, she nearly had security escort him out. When he refused , she leaned against her desk, arms crossed, expression like steel.
"You are a goddamn menace, Bradshaw," she snapped, tossing a stack of papers onto the desk. "I told you to at least keep your personal disasters out of the press, and now look at this circus."
Troy exhaled sharply. "I didn't plan for this."
"No, but she did," Olivia said, leaning back in her chair. "Lila played you like a damn violin. And now Jenna is paying the price. Again."
Troy felt his stomach twist. "I need to talk to her."
